After the latest PowerToys update I have one less reason to swap from Windows 11 to Linux

Microsoft PowerToys logo
Grab And Move and Power Display headline a large PowerToys update with improvements across the board. (Image credit: Microsoft | Windows Central)

The latest update to PowerToys includes new features that Windows and Linux users will love. On top of a number of general improvements and bug fixes, PowerToys v0.99.0 adds two new utilities, and one of them may stop Windows users from flirting with Linux.

As I've shared in recent editions of the Windows Wrap, I'm quite happy with the direction Windows is going in. Microsoft is working to improve its flagship operating system and the culture surrounding feedback.

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Windows 11 desktop with a display settings overlay in the bottom right corner.

PowerToys Display lets you adjust the brightness of your monitor from a flyout. (Image credit: Future)

But now there's one less reason to switch from Windows to Linux, albeit a small one. The most recent update to PowerToys adds a new utility called Grab And Move that lets you resize and drag windows without having to click the title bar or window edge.

By default, Grab And Move is set to move a window when you hold Alt + Left Click and resize a window when you hold Alt + Right Click. You can set the utility to use the Windows key rather than Alt if you'd like.

PowerToys v0.99.0 also adds Power Display, which is a new utility that lets you adjust your monitors through the system tray.You can already adjust system brightness through the system tray, but that feature is limited when using multi-monitor setups or certain displays.

On my setup, the built-in Windows 11 brightness slider only adjusts the screen of my laptop. To adjust my external monitor's brightness, I need to use buttons on the display. Power Display lets me adjust both from the same menu.

Below is the full changelog for the latest PowerToys update. You can read more about the changes on the app's GitHub page.

This update also improves Command Palette, Keyboard Manager, and ZoomIt. The changelog is so long that I'm a bit surprised the PowerToys team didn't hold off for a major release number.

The developers of PowerToys are also working to migrate the app to WinUI 3. Microsoft is shifting toward more native experiences, and WinUI 3 is one of the native UI platforms for Windows.

Image Resizer is being migrated from WPF to WinUI 3, making it look more modern as well as aligning it with the rest of PowerToys.

Overall, this is a massive update with new features and improvements. If you use PowerToys, it's time to hop into the app's settings and install the latest version.

Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys: at github.com

This collection of utilities includes a large library of features to enhance the Windows experience. PowerToys is designed with power users in mind, but it has handy features for people who just use their PC for everyday computing too.

Free at GitHub | Free at Microsoft Store


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Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.

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